Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Sunday hinted at a pre-poll alliance with the Congress ahead of the Assembly polls in Gujarat and stressed that opposition unity a must to ensure a BJP defeat regionally and nationally.
“We have had an alliance with the Congress in Maharashtra and nationally in the UPA,” said Mr. Pawar, who was in Ahmedabad to address a rally. “All parties should come together to fight the BJP.” In Gujarat, the NCP has two MLAs in the 182-member House.
Slamming the State government, Mr. Pawar said the BJP’s over 15-year rule has resulted in neglect of farmers, agriculture sector, and small industries. “Farmers are distressed and so are small and medium enterprises, which once were the backbone of Gujarat's industrial base.”
According to him, the BJP government in the State faces a strong anti-incumbency wave and major communities like Patidars are disgruntled with the party.
Mr. Pawar, before his rally, had a meeting with Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Shankersinh Vaghela, who termed it a curtsey meeting. “The Congress and the NCP were friends, and in future that friendship will remain,” Mr. Vaghela said after the meeting.
Lately, the NCP has become active in the State, which goes to polls later this year. Before Mr. Pawar’s rally, NCP leader Praful Patel visited the State several times, and on Friday, he told media persons in Gandhinagar that the NCP is emerging a strong third face in the State.
